Curtain stretcher



July 31, 1928. 1,678,921

J; J. SIMMONS CURTAIN S'TRETCHER Filed Nov. 8, 192*? &

FIGURE L ATTORNEY July 31, 1928.

J. J. SIMMONS CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed ov. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet m wmaai mvemon ATTORNEY N HID- 1 J. J. SIMMONS cum/nu STRETCHER Jul 31, 192&

Filed Nov. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 w? TOR I h Elam-L NED-.Ql

. ATTQ PQ Y Patented July 31, 1928.

PATENT orrlcs."

JOHN J. SIMMONS, OF S AN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

CURTAIN STRETCHER.

Application filed November 8, 1927. Serial No. 231,883.

This invention relates particularly to that type of curtain stretchers wherein the curtain is supported in an extended position during the drying process.

It is one object of the invention to provide a. stretcher of the character indicated so coi'istructed and arranged as to quickly and easily place the curtain under the required tension when it is mounted thereon.

It is another object of the invention to provide a stretcher that may be quickly placed in an operative position for use, and quickly and easily removed to a position where it occupies but little space when not in use.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a construction of such a nature that a number of stretchers of various sizes may be provided and used within the space occupied by the largest stretcher.

Finally, it is an object of the invention to provide a stretcher of the character indicated that will be simple in form and construction, quickly and easily adjusted, economical to manufacture, and highly eiiicient in its practical application.

In the drawin 'z Figure 1 is an elevation of my, improved curtain. stretcher, parts being broken away.

Figure 2, is a plan View of the same, parts being broken away.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section on 3?) of Figure 2.

Figure t is an enlarged section on line H of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section on line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a view on line 66 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is an enlarged section on line 77 of Figure 6.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 1 show at 1 a suitable standard, preferably square in transverse cross-section and mounted upon a base 2.

On opposite sides of the standard 1, and at the upper end thereof are mounted a pair of U shaped supporting members as 3, di rccted outwardly as shown and secured in position by bolts as 3.

In each member 3 are pivotally mounted a pair of arms as l-A, the pivots being shown at 55, and the arms consequently swinging in a horizontal plane.

Pivotally mounted upon the outer ends of these arms as at 66 are the top supportline . rod 27 mounted an ing bars 7 and 8. These bars have slots as 9 and 10 formed longitudinally therein, the bar 7 having a portion of its end .turned downwardly through the slot 10 and provided with a head as 11. Theend of bar 8 overlapping bar 7 is fitted with a pin 12 passing through slot 9 and having a wingnut 13 thereon. The parts 9 to 13 permit the bars to slide one upon the other and in parallel relation to each other so that their forward edges are maintained in alignment. A long narrow slot is shown at 1 L in bar 7 and lying adjacent its forward edge. In this slot 1 1 are slidably mounted a number of hooks as 15, each hook having a head 16 and a part 17 projecting forwardly of the bar a distance-as shown whereby to bring the hooks into alignment with the hooks 18 in bar 8. The hooks 18 in bar 8 are fixed in position as shown. Thisconstruction permits of any desired distribution of hooks along bar .7 between its pivoted end and the adjacent end of bar 8.

Adjacent the lower end of the standard and in alignment with supporting members 3 are similar supporting members 19 securedby bolts 20 and fitted with arms 21 pivotally mounted therein as at 22. The outer ends of these arms 21 are rigidly connected to the outer ends of the arms 4: thereover by uprights 23 thereby forming two swinging frames. The edge 24: of each upright is provided with a row of hooks as 25.

In the lower portion of each upright 23 is formed a vertical slot 26, and vertically mounted in this slot is'a rod 27. On each eye 28provided with a shank 29 extending downwardly through the bottom of the arm below as at 30 to receive awing-nut 31.

On one rod 27 is pivotally. mounted a bar 32 as at 33, this bar having a longitudinal slot 34 formed therein as shown, and a narrower slot 35 in which is slidably mounted a number OfliOOliS 86. other rod 27 is pivotally mounted as at 37 a bar 38 having a longitudinal slot 39 formed therein and fitted with a plurality of hooks 40 positioned to align with hooks 36 in bar In the present case thebar 87 slides beneath bar 32 and the two bars are held in alignment by means of a lip 41 formed on the end of bar 38 and projecting upwardly through slot 34 in bar 32 as shown, and a pin 42 mounted on the .under side of and threaded On the bar 32 and extending downwardly through slot 39 in bar 37 and fitted with a wingnut 43.

lVhen a curtain is mounted upon the several sets of hooks 15, 18, 25, 36 and 40 the desired lateral tension is secured by swinging the frames apart and fastening the wing-nuts 18 and 43. The vertical tension is applied by tightening up the wing-nuts 31 on the two parts 29, thereby through the medium of the eyes 28 drawing the bars 32 and 37 downwardly on their respective rods 27.

In a structure of this kind smaller stretchers may be mounted on the same standard within the large stretcher, and the whole may be duplicated on the opposite side of the standard. Parts of the framework of a smaller stretcher are indicated at 4A, and part of a duplicate frame. on the opposite side of the standard is shown at 4-5.

Since curtains of the type for which this stretcher is designed are hung upon rods passed through loops formed in their upper ends, have also provided a means whereby they may be mounted upon the stretcher in the same manner. This means comprises a hook as 46 mounted upon each upright near its upper end as shown, and a telescoping rod 47 pivotally engaging the said hooks. In this case the curtain may be mounted upon the rod 4-? and the hooks 25, 3G and 40, and then the frames may be swung apart to secure the lateral tension desired, and the wing-nuts 31 may be operated to secure the desired vertical tension.

It may now be seen that I have provided a curtain stretcher that is simple in con struction, that may be arranged to occupy but little space when not in use, that may be arranged to accommodate curtains of many sizes, and that will be highly el'licient in its practical application.

It is to be understood, of course. that while I have herein shown and described but one specific embodiment of the invention, changes in form, construction and method of assembly and operation may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. In a curtain stretcher, supporting means, a pairof frames pivotally mounted thereon on their inner sides, two pairs of relatively slidable curtain supportinpbars connecting the corresponding ends of the frames adjacent their outer sides, and curtain supporting means mounted on the said outer sides.

2. In a curtain stretcher, supporting means, a pair of frames pivotally mounted thereon on parallel and adjacent axes, a pair of relatively slidable curtain supporting bars pivotally mounted upon and connecting the outer ends of the tops of said frames, a pair of relatively slidable curtain supporting bars pivotally mounted upon and con necting the outer ends of the bottoms of said frames, and curtain supporting means arranger along the outer sides of the frames.

3. In a curtain stretcher, supporting means, a pair of spaced and aligned brackets mounted thereon, a pair of arms pivotally mounted in each bracket to swing in parallel planes, ,a connecting member rigidly inserted between the outer ends of the corresponding swinging arms, a pair of relatively slidable curtain supporting bars pivotally mounted upon the outer ends of one pair of arms, a pair of relatively slidable curtain SIIPPOIlJlIlQ bars pivotally mounted upon the outer ends of the other pair of arms and means for adjusting one pair of bars relative to the other. I

4. In a stretcher of the character described, a pair of pivotally mounted and relatively slidable curtain supporting" bars, each bar having a slot formed longitudinally therein and interlocking): means engaging said slots, and one of said bars hayin a secend slot formed longitudinally therein and curtain engaging hooks slidably mounted in said last mentioned slot.

5. In a curtain stretcher of the character described, a supporting means, a pair of frames pivotally mounted thereon on parallel and adjacent axes, a pair of relatively slidable curtain supporting bars pivotally mounted at the outer ends of one end of said frames, longitudinally disposed rod mounted in the other end of each frame, a pair of relatively slidable curtain support me; bars pivotally mounted on d rods, and adjustable stop means for limiting the move ment of the bars on the rods.

-6. In a curtain stretcher of the character described, a supporting means, a pair of frames pivotally mounted thereon on parallel and adjacent axes, a longitudinally disposed rod mounted in the outer end of each frame, a pair of relatively slidable curtain supporting; bars pivotally mounted on said rods, and means for limiting the movement of the bars comprising a member slidablv mounted on each rod to engage the bar thereon and extending outwardly of the frame andprovided with adjusting means.

Y. In a stretcher of the character de scribed, a pair of relatively slidable curtain supporting bars. each bar having a slot formed longitudinally therein, and interlocking means engaging said slots. and one of said bars having curtain engaging hooks mounte'; along one edge thereof and the other having a second slot formed longitudinally therein and curtain engaging hooks slidably mounted in the said last mentioned slot1 in alignment with the first mentioned hoo IS.

JOHN J. SIMMONS. 

